10 ladies’ watches to be on time in 2019
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Marie de Pimodan-Bugnon
Freelance journalist
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Audemars Piguet, Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked, white "frosted gold", 37mm, manual winding manufacture skeleton movement
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Bovet, Amadeo Fleurier 39, white gold set with 227 round diamonds and 5 briolette diamonds, 39mm, mother-of-pearl dial decorated with miniature paintings, self-winding mechanical movement, unique piece
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Roger Dubuis, Excalibur Shooting Star, pink gold set with diamonds, 36mm, flying tourbillon, skeleton manual winding movement
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Richard Mille, RM 37-01 Kiwi, colored Quartz TPT and Carbon TPT, 34.400 x 52.30mm, self-winding mechanical movement, limited edition (30 pieces)
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Piaget Possession cuff watch, pink gold set with 162 diamonds, 29mm, gold Milanese mesh strap
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Élégante by F. P. Journe, Titalyt titanium, 40mm set with 38 diamonds, electro mechanical movement
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Romain Gauthier, Insight Micro-Rotor Lady Opal, pink gold, 39.5mm self-winding mechanical movement, limited edition (5 pieces)
What will we wear in 2019? Cuff watches, tourbillons, dials set with miniature paintings, skeleton movements, shaped cases… We put a spotlight on the ladies’ watches revealed during the 29th Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked
Audemars Piguet unveils a watch that is brilliant in every way. At first sight, connoisseurs will recognize the famous Royal Oak design with its signature octagonal bezel which the brand has successfully rolled out since 1972. They will enjoy the rainbow magic of its 32 baguette-cut sapphires (2.24 carats) and the glittering effect of its “frosted gold”. They will appreciate the delicate skeleton movement. But most of all, it’s the performance of the two balance wheels assembled on the same axis (and visible on both sides of the watch) that will convince these connoisseurs of its excellence. Precision and increased stability mean that when it comes to being on time, you can shine bright.
Bovet Amadeo Fleurier 39
It’s all about a poetic water ballet made of six miniature carps painted on a mother-of-pearl dial for Bovet, leading to a new interpretation of their Amadeo Fleurier. As true painting, this watch is a unique piece made of 227 round diamonds (1.26 carats) and 5 briolette diamonds, which also stands out thanks to the ingenious Amadeo system. A system that allows the timepiece to turn into a wristwatch, a table clock or a pendant watch, without requiring any tool.
Cartier Baignoire allongée
A now cult object that was born in 1912 thanks to the creative genius of Louis Cartier, this timepiece was reinvented in the 60s in an elongated form in the London ateliers of the Maison. The new Baignoire watch reveals a retro silhouette full of interesting details. With its elongated oval case, the Baignoire allongée brings an elegant oversized look to the wrist. It has a unique form, outlined by its gold bezel carved from one solid block, reminiscent of the clous de Paris. A refined aesthetic with a manual winding movement for this timeless watch, a symbol of the chic à la française.
Élégante by F.P.Journe Titalyt
Who hasn’t ever dreamt of stopping time? After 8 years of research, François-Paul Journe has managed to do it thanks to a new innovative watchmaking concept. The best asset for this élégante by F.P Journe: an electromechanical movement, giving to the owner of the watch more than 8 years of autonomy. The main principle? After 35 minutes of immobility, the watch enters a standby state: the hands freeze to save energy, while a microprocessor keeps counting time. Whenever new movements are detected, the hands reactivate and indicate the time. This marvelous development is also draped into a titanium case, blackened by a Titalyt treatment, which oxidizes the metal through electro-plasma. Resistance, style, and comfort in every situation for this elegant timepiece, which also features a luminescent dial.
Hermès Galop d’Hermès
Horse bits, stirrup, harness…And why not the three at the same time? The designer Ini Archibong was inspired by the horse tack to design this new collection, whose traits are a tribute to Hermès history, saddler-harnesser since its very beginnings. Its shape? Impossible to define under watchmaking terms, as it oscillates between a warhead and a metamorphosed caliper, with a crown positioned at 6 o’clock, under a bow-shaped clip. On the dial, the number 8 is drawn like an inverted stirrup.
Laurent Ferrier Bridge One
A curved rectangle: here comes the new Bridge One Collection by Laurent Ferrier. The famous Passerelle de l’Île in Geneva inspired the silhouette of this timepiece. A voluptuous tribute to the curvy forms, this model also presents a spherical sapphire crystal. The new manual winding movement was specially created for it, with strong attention paid to the finishing touches that are visible through the sapphire.
Piaget Cuff Watch Possession
There is no need to decide between a watch and a piece of jewellery. The Cuff Watch Possession ticks all the boxes. Soft and flexible like a second skin, this piece indicates time while caressing the wrist with its entirely handwoven strap made from Milanese mesh gold. To this artistic piece of goldsmithing, Piaget adds the famous Possession rotating bezel; set with 162 brilliant-cut diamonds, it surrounds a small mother-of-pearl dial with 11 diamonds cut in the form of a dot.
Richard Mille RM 37-01 Kiwi
Fancy a little watchmaking sweetness to help you through the winter? Put your hand into the Richard Mille candy box and pick your taste. Pop, acidulous, regressive, the Bonbon collection is made of 10 models, each limited to 30 pieces only, including this delicious RM 37-01 Kiwi. Inside the coloured Quartz TPT and Carbon TPT case are figurines, which are painted with acrylic and hand-lacquered. The “sugar crystal” effect is made thanks to a mixture of crushed enamel and sand you can find in an hourglass. A good reason to buy some candy cane or marshmallows to enjoy this in-house self-winding mechanical movement.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Shooting Star
She is the new shooting star in Roger Dubuis’ galaxy. With the very last generation of Roger Dubuis’ flying tourbillon skeleton calibre watch, this Excalibur Shooting Star is the smallest ever produced with such a complication. At the very core of the 36mm pink gold diamond studded case, the technicality and sophistication of the movement work hand in hand in a powerful way. Here a few diamonds, there glittery shooting stars. Not to forget the astral form of the skeletonizing, a signature of Roger Dubuis.
Romain Gauthier Insight Micro-Rotor Lady Opal
Mechanical technicality and aesthetic softness are no opposites and Romain Gauthier demonstrates this with the new Insight Micro-Rotor Lady Opal. At the very heart of its pink gold 39.5mm case, the semi-transparent Australian crystal opal unleashes pink, green, purple and turquoise reflections on the bottom plate and the subdials. It delivers a subtle interpretation of the brand’s famous in-house automatic caliber, that boasts a bidirectional micro-rotor. Made in gold and snow set, the timepiece certainly makes an impression. However, this impression is limited to only 5 pieces.
